Natural Features of Continents Landforms click to continue

Earth’s Surface Earth’s surface is constantly changing. Earth’s surface is covered by water and land. The largest bodies of water are called oceans. The largest areas of land are called continents. Earth’s continents have many shapes and landforms. These landforms are continually changing through erosion, weathering of Earth materials being carried away, and deposition, moving Earth materials to a different location. click to continue

Landforms Landforms of continents are often classified by elevation. Elevation is how high something is above sea level. Sea level is where the land of a continent meets the water of an ocean. click to continue

Mountains Mountains are landforms that rise high above the surrounding land. Taller than a hill, a mountain usually has steep slopes and a rounded or sharp ridge. Mountains are rarely found alone. Groups of mountains are called ranges. Mountains are constantly changing, being eroded, or worn down by water, wind, and sometimes ice. How do you think this mountain is changing? click to continue

Valleys A valley is a long, wide area on Earth's surface. Valleys usually lie between ranges of hills or mountains. Most valleys are formed by rivers that erode, or wear down, the soil and rocks that make up a mountain or hill. What is causing the change to this valley? click to continue

Canyons A canyon is a narrow, deep area cut by a river through rock. Canyons range in size from narrow slits to huge trenches. Canyons have very steep sides and may be hundreds of feet deep. Canyons continue to change. Water, wind, and sometimes ice deposit soil and rocks from one place to another. How is this canyon changing over time? click to continue

Plateaus Plateaus are an area of high ground with a fairly flat surface. Plateaus are bordered on one or more sides by cliffs or steep slopes. Piedmont plateaus are bordered on one side by mountains and on the other by a plain or large body of water. What could cause this plateau to change over time? click to continue

Plains A plain is an area of land that is flat or gently rolling. Plains can be covered by grasslands, deserts, or even woodlands. How could weather cause this plain to change over time? click to continue

Coasts Coasts are areas where the ocean and land meet. Coastal areas are also known as shores and seasides. A coastal plain is an area of flat land that meets the sea or ocean. The elevation where the coast meets the ocean is called sea level. How do erosion and deposition change a coastline? click to continue

Map of North America Mountains Valleys Canyons Plateaus Plains Coasts Where on this map of North America would you look for each natural feature? click to continue